Episode 121: Stress, the science of cortisol, and updates on the Female Athlete Triad

Episode 121: Stress, the science of cortisol, and updates on the Female Athlete Triad

From Trail Society by Keely Henninger

February 17, 2026 · 1h 10m

About this episode

Keely discusses the impact of stress on female athletes and updates on the Female Athlete Triad.

Keely’s back from her Step 1 Medical Licensing Exam and honeymoon chaos, and we’re diving straight into one of the most important conversations for female athletes right now: stress. Stress from training. Stress from life. Stress from the world. Stress from big exams and big dreams. It's a perfect transition into the brand new 2025 Female Athlete Triad Coalition consensus update and what those changes means for athletes, coaches, and doctors. We break down: What cortisol actually is (and why it’s not always the villain) Energy deficiency vs. REDs vs. the Female Athlete Triad Why BMI isn’t an accurate measure of athlete health New hormonal markers that do matter Why adolescent runners are especially vulnerable And why life stress absolutely counts when it comes to health and performance And then Keely and Corrine address the “Lindsey Vonn controversy,” highlighting the clear double standard in how injured athletes are judged. When men compete through injury, it’s called grit. When women do, it’s labeled reckless or irresponsible. This episode is brought to you by: rabbit: If you're looking to treat yourself after the holidays or upgrade your winter running kit, head to…

People in this episode

Host: Keely Henninger

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Sponsors

rabbit, ProBio

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Female Athlete Triad Coalition

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